Hanson, Jensen, Tardy Take Red Clay Classic Wins; Uotinen is Como Series Champ

by Nick Gima

            Ashland, WI, September 27 --Minnesota drivers Harry Hanson, Joey Jensen and Jeff Tardy laid claim to Red Clay Classic victories Saturday night at the ABC Raceway, as the northern Wisconsin speedplant hosted its final AmsOil Dirt Track Series event of 2008.

            In addition, Al Uotinen of Superior was named the third Como Mod Series champion in as many years under the most unlikely and dramatic of circumstances.

            Prior to the start of Friday’s preliminary action, the Raceway honored late model driver Tom Nesbitt of Thunder Bay, ON, who is about to complete his 50th season of competitive racing. Nesbitt, a five-time RCC champion, was presented a commemorative framed portrait from track personnel in front of the capacity crowd, who gave him a standing ovation.

            Then, before the start of Saturday’s 50-lap, $4,000-to-win WISSOTA late model feature, Nesbitt paced the four-wide salute to the fans beneath a shower of colorful fireworks.

Once under green the late model feature was only interrupted once, with a quick early pace set by Mike Prochnow, who beat pole starter Darrell Nelson through the first turns. Hanson, of Eveleth, MN, who started on the outside of row 2, moved up alongside Nelson during lap 2 and briefly took over runner-up honors, but two laps later, when Hanson attempted a pass for the lead, he overdrove the car into the corner and nearly spun, allowing Prochnow to get away and Nelson to retake second.             As Prochnow began to draw up to the tail-end of the field by running consistent sub-16-second laps, Hanson and Nelson resumed their side-by-side battle, which Hanson eventually won on lap 9. Prochnow put John Massingill down a lap only 13 circuits into the event, but as he began to negotiate lapped traffic Hanson and Nelson closed on the leader.             On lap 15 Hanson took advantage of Prochnow’s struggles with the slower traffic and used an inside move to make what turned out to be the winning pass - a three-wide affair that also put Nesbitt a lap down. Then the leaders caught a break when the event’s lone yellow flag flew, for a Pete Parker spin in turn 1.             With nothing but clear racetrack in front of them, Hanson led Prochnow, Nelson, Paul Brust and Jesse Redetzke back to the green, and quickly Nelson swept around Prochnow into second. Redetzke also worked the outside line to get past Brust and put pressure on Prochnow, but Brust began a strong second-half run by using a three-wide inside move on both Prochnow and Redetzke to take over third on lap 29.             Over the final 20 laps Hanson drew up to and weaved his way through the backmarkers, allowing Nelson to eat into what had been a significant lead, and also giving Brust a chance to gain on the lead pair. Meanwhile, the battle between Redetzke and Prochnow, which was of the door-to-door variety for the better part of ten laps, gave Danny Young the chance to sneak by into fourth, albeit at a distance to the front three.             Brust gave Nelson a run during the final five laps, and Nelson closed quickly on Hanson, but Hanson held on for his first-ever RCC title and second career win at Ashand. Nelson was only a car-length back in second, and Brust was not much further behind in third. Young, who started 21st out of the two-dozen in the field, was impressive with his fourth-place effort, and Prochnow finally prevailed in that thrilling fight for fifth over Redetzke.             Jensen completed a successful weekend with a seventh-place effort, ahead of Gordie Seegert, Tom Waselseki, Sr, and Don Copp.             In Friday’s preliminary action, Waseleski, Redetzke, Nelson, Hanson and Prochnow were the late model heat winners. Nelson won the dash to earn the right to start the A-main on the pole, and Saturday’s semi-feature winners were Young and Tim McMann.
Jensen, of Forest Lake, MN, had to work hard, then excercise a lot of patience to earn his first RCC WISSOTA modified crown, to add to the late model win he achieved in 2005 and three other mod wins here, including one during the Como Mod Series’ visit here earlier this summer.             But the story within the race was the chase for the Series title. Uotinen came into the weekend only five points up on Nelson and eight ahead of Ryan Aho, but things tightened up after Aho won his heat race and Nelson took third in his; Uotinen was fourth in his heat. In fact, after Friday night’s action, only two of the top six drivers in Series points had qualified for the mod feature.             Polesitter Mike Goodremote led all but two of the first 13 laps of the event, with Craig Thatcher swiping the point away on laps 2 and 4. Jerry Weigel’s car suffered left-front steering damage after a kiss off the front-straight concrete wall six laps in but continued running in the top six or so until the car looped in turn 4 to bring out the first caution flag of the race on lap 8.             After the restart Jensen, who began the 35-lap race on the inside of row 4, slipped past Rich Lofthus and Aho into third place, but Goodremote and Thatcher were soon far ahead in their tussle for the lead.             Then the drama began when Uotinen’s car, running near the tail of the order, gave up due to rear-end troubles on lap 11, ending his hopes for the $7,500 Como Series championship check - or so everyone thought at the time. Jensen worked inside against Thatcher until he took second away just after the restart, and two laps later he became the leader for good when he got around Goodremote.             After Paul Knauf’s car stalled on the backstraight on lap 16, the cars of Nelson and Paul Niznik tangled to stop the action again, and both were done for the night. This opened the door for Aho to swipe the Series title away, but the next twist came when Aho made contact with Lofthus while the two dueled for third on the restart, sending Aho to the pit with a flat tire.             With 15 laps left Jensen and Thatcher had again separated themselves from the field, with 15th-starting Duane Dale shown in third. Dave Cain, who had to come through semi-feature action just to make the race and started 21st in the 26-car field, ran behind Goodremote in fifth.             Then on lap 27 Goodremote’s car slowed dramatically on the front straight, and just past the flagstand Aho, racing in heavy traffic, could not avoid the slowing car and made heavy contact. Goodremote’s car was lifted into the air and flipped before coming down on its roof. Aho quickly exited his car and joined the safety crews to tend to Goodremote, and after several tense moments Goodremote crawled from the car, waved to the crowd and came up into the grandstands to give family members a hug of relief.             With Aho now out as well, this turned the fans’ attention for the Como Series title to the remaining contenders - Jason Miller, Jayme Lautigar and Kelly Estey - but none could mount enough of a run through the field to earn enough points to surpass Uotinen’s total, despite Uotinen finishing next-to-last in the official race order.             One last yellow-flag slowdown - on lap 29 for a Mark Hanson spin - was not enough to allow Thatcher a chance to reel in Jensen, whose car was hooked up and flying to the finish; Jensen even posted the race’s fastest lap (16.721 seconds) during the final six laps on his way to the $3,000 win. Thatcher was not far behind in second, and Cain, who overtook Dale just after the restart after the Goodremote-Aho incident, posted a solid third-place effort.             Ross Prochnow started 12th but finished fourth at a distance to the top three, as he passed Dale two laps from the checkers. Lofthus led the second five, ahead of Miller, Ricky Roche, Copp and Mike Anderson.             Uotinen’s unofficial final margin in was the closest in the three-year Como Series history - two points over Aho, and three over Miller and Nelson.             Modified heat winners included Goodremote, Thatcher, Lofthus, Weigel, Niznik and Aho, and Goodremote won the dash to gain the feature pole start. Uotinen made the main event by winning his semi-feature, as did Robby Bunkelman and Cain
The 30-lap WISSOTA super stock feature kicked off Saturday’s A-main action, and for the first five laps pole starter Joe Oliver fought off repeated challenges by Ken Truscott. Eventually Truscott edged ahead to lead lap 6, but Oliver came right back to pace the next ten laps when Truscott slipped up high in turn 2 on lap 7.             Other than a slowdown for debris on lap 4, the race moved right along until lap 25, giving Tardy the opportunity to quickly work his way up from his third-row starting spot into second. The Hibbing, MN, pilot then made several high-side challenges for the lead before making a pass stick for good on lap 11.             Eric Olson had followed Tardy into third, and the top three stayed in formation throughout the remainder of the race. Further back, Kevin Eder and Scott Lawrence discussed fourth place heatedly until Lawrence wrestled the position away on lap 23.             Despite the long green-flag run, Tardy couldn’t build much of a lead over Oliver until just before Sam Skalsky spun and hit the guardrail at the top of turn 1 on lap 25. Oliver’s threats over the final five laps were aided by two more caution flags, but Tardy held on for his first-ever win at ABC. Olson followed closely in third, and Eder crossed the line fourth ahead of Lawrence, but later a technical inspection found issues with the motor in Eder’s car, awarding Lawrence the fourth-place check and moving Randy Spacek to fifth in the final rundown.             The second five were made up by Steve Thomas, Aaron Wilson, 21st-starting Rich Bishop, 24th-starting Dave Flynn and Trevor Wilson.             On Friday, Truscott, Oliver, Aaron Wilson, Olson, Tardy and Duane Dunbar were super stock heat winners, while Aho, Donnie Lofdahl and Bishop earned semi-feature wins.

Results

WISSOTA Late Models

            Feature: Harry Hanson, Eveleth, MN; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Paul Brust, Rice Lake; Danny Young, Thunder Bay, ON; Mike Prochnow, Menomonie; Jesse Redetzke, Altoona; Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Gordie Seegert, Oostburg; Tom Waseleski Sr, Pengilly, MN; Don Copp, Brule; Dave Cain, Corcoran, MN; Kyle Peterlin, Hibbing, MN; Tom Waseleski Jr, Pengilly, MN; Mike Goodremote, Sand Creek; Dave Esse, Duluth, MN; Jeff Provinzino, Hibbing, MN; Kevin Carlson, Cloquet, MN; Tim McMann, Duluth, MN; John Massingill, Keewatin, MN; Jeff Massingill, Keewatin, MN; Travis Budisalovich, Cottage Grove, MN; John Meeds, Spooner; Pete Parker, Kaukauna; Tom Nesbitt, Thunder Bay, ON.

            Heat 1: T Waseleski Sr; Provinzino; Goodremote; Copp; Young; Cain; Bob Kleinschmidt, Arbor Vitae; Todd Gehl, Solon Springs.

            Heat 2: Redetzke; Brust; T Waselseki Jr; Nesbitt; Todd Flannery, Antigo; John Carpenter, Hibbing, MN; Terry Lillo, Duluth, MN; Roger Paolo, Hibbing, MN.

            Heat 3: Nelson; Jensen; Budisalovich; K Carlson; John Massingill; Mike Hesselink, Deer Park; George Ledin, Britt, MN.

            Heat 4: Hanson; Peterlin; Esse; Parker; McMann; Bobby Carlson, Hibbing, MN; Bob Slater, Thunder Bay, ON; Scott Meeds, Siren.

            Heat 5: Prochnow; Seegert; Jeff Massingill; J Meeds; Keane Laakson, Stone Lake; Matt Sorenson, Duluth, MN; Davin Larson, Trego.

            Dash: Nelson; Prochnow; Redetzke; Hanson; T Waseleski Sr; Brust; Provinzino; Seegert; Peterlin; Jensen.

            Semi-Feature 1: Young; John Massingill; B Carlson; Ledin; Carpenter; S Meeds; Laakson; Larson; Paolo; Kleinschmidt.

            Semi-Feature 2: McMann; Cain; Flannery; Lillo; Gehl; Hesselink; Slater; Mike Waseleski, Pengilly, MN; Sorenson.

WISSOTA Modifieds

            Feature: Joey Jensen, Forest Lake, MN; Craig Thatcher, Knapp; Dave Cain, Corcoran, MN; Ross Prochnow, Menomonie; Duane Dale, Aurora, MN; Rich Lofthus, Bloomer; Jason Miller, Osceola; Ricky Roche, International Falls, MN; Don Copp, Brule; Mike Anderson, Colfax; Brent Prochnow, Menomonie; Robby Bunkelman, Abbotsford; Kent Baxter, Dorchester; Jody Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN; Paul Niznik, Medford; Kelly Estey, Kelly Lake, MN; Jayme Lautigar, Superior; Jeff Hart, Hibbing, MN; Mark Hanson, Chippewa Falls; Scott Hudack, Ashland; Ryan Aho, Chisholm, MN; Mike Goodremote, Sand Creek; Darrell Nelson, Hermantown, MN; Paul Knauf, Marshfield; Al Uotinen, Superior; Jerry Weigel, Abbotsford.

            Heat 1: Goodremote; Miller; Anderson; Uotinen; Jeff Spacek, Phillips; B Prochnow; Steve Lavasseur, River Falls; Wayne Stricker, Highbridge; Kelly Checkalski, Poplar; Bill Byholm, Glidden.

            Heat 2: Thatcher; Hanson; Knauf; Lautigar; Jerry Hartman, Marenisco, MN; Jason Schill, Dresser; Bellefeuille; Dean Yrjanainen, Lake Nebagamon; Bruce Tourville, Star Prairie.

            Heat 3: Lofthus; J Jensen; Nelson; Cain; Jeff Wood, Chisholm, MN; Scott Duval, Bloomer; Kevin Rogers, Unity; Fred Aschenbauer, Crosby, MN; Brad Jensen, Brainerd, MN; Estey.

            Heat 4: Weigel; Copp; Hudack; Rick Rivord, Superior; Nick Lavato, Proctor, MN; Don Brightbill, Hudson; Shawn Kelley, Somerset; John Frydrych, Butternut; Tim Alexander, Stanchfield, MN.

            Heat 5: Niznik; Baxter; Roche; Bunkelman; Paul Schultz, Grand Rapids, MN; Gavin Paull, Fort Frances, ON; Keith Tourville, Star Prairie; Ross Lightner, Washbunr; Bryan Dorge, Winnepeg, MB; Jason Zdroik, Eagle River.

            Heat 6: Aho; R Prochnow; Dale; Kobs; Hart; Larry Prochnow, Menomonie; Marc Johnson, Ely, MN; John Baltich, Hibbing, MN; Travis Swanson, Ashland; Bryan Nayes, Chippewa Falls.

            Dash: Goodremote; Thatcher; Aho; Lofthus; Niznik; Weigel.

            Semi-Feature 1: Uotinen; B Prochnow; Byholm; Checkalski; Lavasseur; Frydrych; Brightbill; Rivord; Kelley; Spacek; Alexander.

            Semi-Feature 2: Bunkelman; Lautigar; Schultz; Hartman; Lightner; B Tourville; schill; Bellefeuille; Zdroik; Paull; Dorge; Yrjanainen; K Tourville.

            Semi-Feature 3: Cain; Hart; Aschenbauer; Rogers; Johnson; Baltich; Swanson; B Jensen; Wood; L Prochnow; Duval; Estey; Nayes.

WISSOTA Super Stocks

            Feature: Jeff Tardy, Hibbing, MN; Joe Oliver, Superior; Eric Olson, Ladysmith; Scott Lawrence, Superior; Randy Spacek, Phillips; Steve Thomas, Menomonie; Aaron Wilson, Menomonie; Rich Bishop, New Richmond; Dave Flynn, Superior; Trevor Wilson, Superior; Destin Lorimor, Superior; Nick Oreskovich, ason; Ken Truscott, Greenland, MI; Mark Stender, Holcombe; Mike Loomis, Forest Lake, MN; Tom Karis, Menomonie; Donnie Lofdahl, Proctor, MN; Rick Hallquist, Eau Claire; Sam Skalsky, Hibbing, MN; Duane Dunbar, Marenisco, MI; Ryan Aho, Chisholm, MN; Mike Bellefeuille, Duluth, MN.

            Heat 1: Truscott; Skalsky; Oreskovich; Aho; Steve Rivord, Superior; Charley Obermueller, Wilson; Charlie Anderson, Ironwood, MI; Jeff Ruzich, Kelly Lake, MN.

            Heat 2: Oliver; Loomis; Lorimor; Andy Grymala, Superior; Bellefeuille; Terry Kroening, Colby; Marcus Berget, Amery; Brian Mikkonen, Iron River.

            Heat 3: A Wilson; Thomas; Karis; Bishop; Brandon Jensen, Hammond; Todd Bonney, Bayfield; Trevor Arens, Hibbing, MN; Cy Hoaglan, Ashland; Greg Alling, Dresser.

            Heat 4: Olson; Lawrence; Ron Hmielewski, Marengo; Hallquist; Keith Kern, Superior; Brad Johnson, Wilson; Chuck Hawkinson, Mellen; Zach Wohlers, Hibbing, MN; John Feirn, Chippewa Falls.

            Heat 5: Tardy; Spacek; T Wilson; Lofdahl; Tad Schoonover, Eagle River; Ronnie Malecki, Superior; Gary Cornelison, Duluth, MN; Greg Kuklinski, Ironwood, MI; Art Hyde, Washburn.

            Heat 6: Dunbar; Kevin Eder, Ashland; Stender; Mike Keller, Menomonie; Flynn; Rick Kobs, Deer Park; Don Koivisto, Saxon; Myron Basina, Bayfield.

            Semi-Feature 1: Aho; Hallquist; Obermueller; Shane Kisling, Sarona; Wohlers; Anderson; Ruzich; Kern; Johnson; Rivord; Hawkinson; Feirn.

            Semi-Feature 2: Lofdahl; Bellefeuille; Grymala; Mikkonen; Kuklinski; Malecki; Cornelison; Hyde; Schoonover; Berget; Kroening.

            Semi-Feature 3: Bishop; Flynn; Keller; Kobs; Jensen; Bonney; Alling; Koivisto; Hoaglan; Arens.